December 2016
CHECK OUT OUR GREAT USED VEHICLES FOR LEASE

See below for a few examples and check out our website for more!

2016 Mazda3 GX
6,959 kms
8,475 kms

24,800 kms

2011 Audi A5
57,485 kms

2015 GMC Savana 2500
11,300 kms


4960 Sheppard Ave. E.
Scarborough, Ontario
Phone: 416-609-2125
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We value your business and would like to keep the lines of communication open between you and Quest.

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With the new year just around the corner, the Landscape Ontario Congress, Canada's largest landscape exhibit is also fast approaching. Quest will once again be on hand at Booth 1328 from Jan. 10-12 to discuss various lease options on vehicles and equipment, and answer any questions you may have. 

Whether you are a landscape/snow plow operator, supplier to the industry or just looking for ideas for your own home, Quest has a limited number of Free VIP Admission passes for our valued customers. Please email jiml@questauto.com and we will be happy to send you a complementary pass.
 
This month we also cover perils of long finance terms, the Canadian Car of the Year Finalists, the 50th anniversary of the Toyota Corolla and much more. As always, we hope you enjoy the information and will call us at (416)-609-2125 with any questions or needs that you may have regarding your next vehicle. 

In the meantime, we'd like to wish you all a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year. We look forward to continue working with you in 2017.

Thanks so much,

H. Gary Peacock
General Manager 
Ontario is Rolling Out New Rules for the Towing Industry

Starting in January, there will be some major changes to the way that vehicles are towed in Ontario. The provincial government will introduce new rules to help protect drivers stranded on the side of the road.

Tow truck operators will also have to register with the province, like bus and transport truck drivers. The move is designed to help officials keep tabs on operators and improve road safety. 

Among other things the new regulations will require tow truck operators to:
  • Provide a written quote prior to towing any vehicle;
  • Tell drivers if they've been paid to recommend a repair shop;
  • For no additional fee, allow drivers to access contents from their vehicle after it has been towed.
  • Get permission from a consumer before providing services;
  • Disclose information, in writing, to the consumer, including business name, contact information, and address where the vehicle will be towed;
  • Accept credit card and/or cash payments;
  • Maintain authorization and disclosure records, invoices, copies of insurance policy, and current statement of rates for three years.                     
2017 Canadian Car of the Year Winners
Image via General Motors

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) has announced it's Canadian Car of the Year category winners after a week of testing in Clarington, Ont.

The collected data is based on back-to-back vehicle testing. In total, 1,384 test drives were done this year.

Check out the category finalists below, with the winners marked in italics.

Best New Small Car:
- Chevrolet Cruze
- Hyundai Elantra 
- Subaru Impreza

Best New Large Car:
- Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
- Kia Optima HEV
- Volkswagen Golf (Alltrack)

Best New Large Premium Car 
- Buick LaCrosse
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- S90 Volvo

Best New Sports - Performance Car
- Fiat 124 Spider
- Ford Focus RS
- Hyundai Elantra (Sport)
Best New Premium Sports - Performance Car
- BMW M2
- Mercedes-AMG C-Class Coupe
- Porsche 911 (Carrera 4S)

Best New Small Utility Vehicle 
- Ford Escape
- Kia Sportage 
- Subaru Forester 

Best New Large Utility Vehicle 
- Chrysler Pacifica
- GMC Acadia 
- Mazda CX-9

Best New Premium Utility Vehicle 
- Buick Envision 
- Cadillac XT5
- Mercedes-Benz GLC

Beware of the Dangers of Becoming a Monthly Payment Junkie
Info via OMVIC
As consumers we have become accustomed to "immediate gratification," in part, due to the ready availability of credit. But that doesn't just apply to seasonal shopping; for car-buyers, vehicles that would have been completely unaffordable two decades ago are financially accessible today. Consumers can buy the car of their dreams, with no money down, for a monthly or bi-weekly payment that has somehow become affordable.

According to OMVIC, Ontario's vehicle sales regulator, this is the result of historically low interest rates combined with longer repayment terms. The old norm of four- to five-year car loans is gone; today it's common for car-buyers to finance their new vehicle over seven to eight years.

But these "monthly payment junkies" usually don't understand that long-term vehicle financing can set up a cycle of greater debt with subsequent vehicle purchase. As a result, they find themselves "up-side-down" when it's time to buy a new car.

Consumer's who are up-side-down have negative equity - essentially, they owe more for a vehicle than it's worth. Considering how quickly vehicles depreciate and how often consumers trade-in, financing a car for more over 84 months means it's easy to end up up-side-down.

If you have any questions, or would like to know more about negative equity, give us a call.

2018 Ford EcoSport
Image via Ford

Ford has pledged to bring four new SUVs to North America before the next decade. They introduced the first - and smallest - at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

First built in Brazil in 2004, the Ford EcoSport will officially be available in Canada in early 2018 in the low $20,000 range.

Two engines will be available: the holdover 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder with front-wheel drive, and a new-to-the-vehicle 2.0-litre four-cylinder that will come standard with four-wheel drive, a necessity in northern climates. 

Both engines are mated exclusively to six-speed automatics. The EcoSport is made for convenience. There are 30 different storage spaces, including a rear compartment with a movable floor and pockets on the side of the front seats for your smartphone. 

The EcoSport also comes with an eight-inch screen, an optional 10-speaker B&O sound system, high-speed USB ports, and an updated Sync3 platform. 

The 2018 version will come in four trims, with leather standard on the upper level Platinum edition. 

Celebrating the Corolla's 50th Anniversary 
When the first Corollas rolled into Japanese dealerships in 1966, they didn't seem like cars that would revolutionize the auto industry.

Small, boxy and powered by a modest engine, they were originally designed for Japan's growing middle class. But the Corolla's simple specs and near indestructibility would eventually turn it into a star here - Toyota started selling them in North America in 1968 - and the best-selling car in history around the globe.

The car's longevity is a testament to stellar engineering and practical thinking, according to Dimitry Anastakis, a Trent University professor who focuses on Canadian automotive history. 

"They aren't the most stylish cars; this is the quintessential A to B vehicle," he told CAA Magazine. But the Corolla's fuel efficiency and reliability has, for decades, struck a cord with car buyers," said Anastakis.

"The success of the Corolla really did mark a shift [from] seeing cars as objects of desire to objects of practicality," he said.

              

Since the Corolla's debut, there have been 11 generations. Here are some of the highlights:

1966

Image via Wikipedia Commons.

The very first Corolla, which was aimed at Japan's suburban middle class, had a very humble 1.1-litre engine.

1970

Image via Wikipedia Commons

The Corolla gets its first face-lift - and more power - to attract North American buyers.

1983

Image via Wikipedia Commons

Toyota gives the car a new look for the '80s and front-wheel drive for the first time.

1988

Image via Wikipedia Commons

Toyota starts building the Corolla at a plant in Cambridge, Ont.

1997

Image via Wikipedia Commons

The Corolla surpasses the Volkswagen Beetle to become the best-selling car of all time.

2013

Image via Wikipedia Commons

Toyota sells its 40-millionth Corolla.

 
2018 Audi Q5
Image via Audi
As little as 12 years ago, Audi didn't have an SUV to its name. In 2009, the Q5 arrived and took the small premium crossover segment by storm, climbing the ranks to the point where it outsold any other small luxury SUV in 2015. 

The upcoming 2018 Q5 aims to repeat the success of the original by improving every facet of the vehicle. It's all new from its very core to every panel on its body. 

The new Q5 grows in every direction, now measuring longer, wider, and taller, but still manages to be 110 pounds lighter than the 2016 model. There's a bit more legroom in the rear seats, and a good amount of headroom, but the middle seat is quite cramped. 

Audi's Multi-Media Interface and Virtual Cockpit offer several ways for one to operate navigation, audio, and car systems. The steering-wheel thumb wheel and buttons on the left spoke are a standout feature, letting drivers access the most common functions for stereo, phone, and nav without lifting the hand off the wheel.

The initial North American powertrain offering will be Volkswagen Group's 2.0 TFSI, a 2.0-litre turborcharged four-cylinder tuned to 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque paired with the seven-speed dual-clutch 'S tronic' gearbox. That's enough power to get it to about 100 km/h in less than seven seconds. The transmission is quick and smart, finding the right gear without delay and making easy work of passing maneuvers. 

The new model will also feature adaptive cruise, new driver assistance systems, on-board Wi-Fi, a wireless charging tray, and rear headrest-mounted entertainment system. Audi nails every point a small luxury SUV needs to, with a premium, high-quality interior, well-integrated technology, convenient utility, and a refined, sporty driving experience. 

The 2018 Q5 comes to Canada next spring.